Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota RAV4. While reversing the vehicle, the accelerator pedal became stuck. The brake pedal failed to slow down the vehicle and the speed exceeded 55 MPH. The contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle, which ended up destroyed. A police report was filed. The contact was not injured. The dealer (wellesley Toyota, 234 worcester st, wellesley, ma 02481, [phone]) was notified of the failure and the service center manager indicated that there was no determined cause of the unintended acceleration. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V113000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was towed to a repair shop per the insurance company's request and the collision damages were repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
I was pulling into a parking spot at less than 10 MPH when the engine revved loudly, lurched forward, jumped the curb and continued up a slope. I was unable to stop the car. I was able to turn the wheel to avoid a head-on collision with a building, and instead hit the building on an angle on the left front side. The car stopped only after hitting the building. This is the third instance of "unintended acceleration" I have experienced with this vehicle. This was the most serious episode. The other two events were similar. In the first instance the car again accelerated while I was parking at low speed and hit a fence. In the second instance there was no damage or injury as I was able to put the car into park.
The vsc/trac light came on while driving. Also transmission started acting funny. From a stop sign it would hesitate and then start with a jerk. While driving at a constant speed the rpms would go up and down. I took it to an auto parts store to have them read the error code. They said it was a solenoid problem within the transmission. I took it to a transmission shop and they checked it out and ordered a remanufactured transmission. Total cost was over $4,600. Since the transmission was replaced have had the car back 3 times in 2 weeks with same problem. Today, 1-23-17, I drove it about 1 mile and vsc/trac light came on again. I took it back to transmission shop and left it running. They came out and tried to use their scanner but had some difficulty so they turned off the engine and when they tried to restart it the engine would not turn over. …
I entered my car in the home garage while coasting and the car suddenly accelerated as I approached about 5 feet within my parking spot. After the car suddenly accelerated, it was a matter of seconds before the car crashed into a floor cabinet and refrigerator that rests against our garage wall stopping the car's forward movement and allowing me put the car in the drive gear and turn off the engine. The air bags did not deploy and fortunately I was not injured. The crash caused extensive damages to the front of the car, both front side fenders, driver and passenger doors, the garage wall, floor cabinet and refrigerator. There May be additional internal damage under the hood but at this point that has not been determined. The car damages are so extensive that it May be a total loss. Obviously, I'm very disappointed by this incident and will not trust the car in the future. …
I was stopped at a red light with ~1 car length between me and one car in front of me. When the light turned green and the car ahead began to move, I took my foot off the brake and moved it to the accelerator as usual. At that point, my car rapidly accelerated out of control and hit the car in front. My brakes wouldn't engage and my car continued to accelerate rapidly. I had to swerve around the car I hit while my car continued at high speed through two stop signs in a residential neighborhood. During this time, I had to swerve to avoid hitting oncoming cars. All the while I was trying to apply brakes, but they wouldn't engage and my speed didn't decrease. After approximately 1/2 mile, the brakes finally engaged and I was able to bring the car to a stop. My airbags didn't deploy after the initial impact, perhaps because of the initial low speed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota RAV4. While driving 35 MPH his vehicle accelerated to a high speed, and would not decelerate. Consequently he crashed into a pole. She sustained multiple injuries and was hospitalized .the police were still conducting an investigation, and a report will be available if necessary. The vehicle was towed to an impound. The Toyota manufacturer was not called. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota RAV4. The contact started the vehicle and as he shifted into reverse, a rapid acceleration occurred causing the vehicle to crash into a building. The contact sustained minor injuries to the neck. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a collision facility. The failure mileage was 62,000. Updated 04/07/11
Vehicle decelerate, ignores throttle input with ESP light flashing and sometimes a 'beeping' sound with violent sequential brake application by itself of right front wheel, with the violent consequence that it has on steering wheel. Made a 'reset' of steering wheel angle sensor procedure by Toyota steps. Problem not solved. By my experience as an automotive technician I suspected of an ESP problem. I also noticed that there was a slightly increased input of steering wheel needed to have the same effect than before. By visual inspection, with another person moving the steering wheel, there was an excessive movement (play) of steering 'rack and pinion' from its mounting bushings to the body. Y pay to have those bushings replaced, and problem solved. It is a common issue. Now 135,000 miles and still no problems. …
My cars check engine and vsc trac lights came on at the same time when I started the car. I then put it in drive and pressed on the gas pedal and nothing happened, but sometimes the car suddenly accelerates. My husband had to drive my car and I had to follow him home b/c the car was so unpredictable. He would have to push down hard on the gas pedal and it would hesitate but then all of a sudden it would then jerk forward. He was terrified that he would get stuck in the middle of an intersection! I found an article online about how Toyota provided extended warrantys to 2001-2003 RAV4 vehicle owners for this exact issue. Please see article: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/Toyota-owners-complain-this-time-about-the-RAV4/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0 please help me with this! Its not fair that people with a 2004 or later can't benefit from this! …
2004 RAV4. Accelerator has become erratic in the last 3 months. Car will leap ahead with virtually no pressure on pedal. Only does it occasionally. Pedal is mounted quite high, above the brake pedal, and cannot contact floor mats. While pulling into a right angle parking spot at low speed and with foot on brake, vehicle suddenly surged ahead. I was only 5 feet from a brick wall and could not respond quickly enough to brake the vehicle. Impact with wall plaster (about 1 foot wide) crushed the bumper, grill and buckled the hood. Apparently speed was not great and the airbags did not deploy but seatbelts caused chest injury to both my passenger and myself. Perhaps fortunate that the wall was so close or my passenger and myself might have been more seriously injured. Will be trading this car in as soon as it is repaired.
Acceleration complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2004 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2004 Toyota RAV4, 13% of the model year's 154 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota RAV4 acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2004 Toyota RAV4, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota RAV4 acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.